BLACK ICE Virus 🔐 (.ICE Files) — How to Remove?

The Black ice virus belongs with the ransomware type of infection. Ransomware of this type encrypts all the data on your computer (images, text files, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its own extension to every file, creating the ICE_Recovey.txt text files in every directory with the encrypted files.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Gridinsoft Anti-Malware 6-day trial available.
EULA | Privacy Policy | 10% Off Coupon

Subscribe to our Telegram channel to be the first to know about news and our exclusive materials on information security.

What is Black ice virus?

Black ice appends its specific .ICE extension to the name of every encrypted file. For instance, an image entitled “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.ICE”. In the same manner, the Excel file with the name “table.xlsx” will be altered to “table.xlsx.ICE”, and so forth.

In each directory containing the encrypted files, a ICE_Recovey.txt text file will be found. It is a ransom money note. Therein you can find information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the ransomware developers. You can obtain this decrypting software after contacting Black.Ice85@onionmail.org through email. That is it.

Black ice Summary:

The ICE_Recovey.txt file coming in package with the Black ice ransomware states the following:

Personal ID : -
+++ BLACK ICE +++


ALL YOUR IMPORTANT FILES ARE STOLEN AND ENCRYPTED!
and now have the \"ICE\" extension.


There is  only one way to get your files back:
1.  Contact with us
2. In subject line please write your Personal ID
3. To prove that we can decrypt your files, send us 1 unimportant encrypted files. (up to 1 MB)  and we will decrypt them for free.
4. We accept Bitcoin


Contact us:
Black.Ice85@onionmail.org
Black.Ice85@skiff.com


+Do not delete or modify encrypted files.


+Any attempts to restore your files with the thrid-party software will be fatal for your files!
To recovery your data and not to allow data leakage, it is possible only through purchase of a private key from us.


+Don\'t go to recovery companies, they are essentially just middlemen who will make money off you and cheat you.
We are well aware of cases where recovery companies tell you that the ransom price is 5 BTC but in fact they secretly negotiate with us for 1 BTC, so they earn 4 BTC from you.
If you approached us directly without intermediaries you would pay 5 times less, that is 1 BTC.

In the image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Black ice looks like. Each filename has the “.ICE” extension added to it.

An example of encrypted .ICE files.

How did my computer get infected with Black ice ransomware?

There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.

There are currently three most exploited ways for malefactors to have ransomware planted in your system. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer-to-peer networks.

• If you access your inbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is unknown to you, beware of opening those letters. They are very likely to have a malicious file enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan file model. A Trojan is an object that gets into your PC pretending to be something different. For instance, you download an installer of some program you want or an update for some software. However, what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful program that encodes your data. As the update package can have any title and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the resource of the files you’re downloading. The best way is to use the software companies’ official websites.
• As for the peer-to-peer networks like BitTorrent or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded objects with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is finished.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is important to note that besides encrypting your files, the Black ice virus will most likely install Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

Remove Black ice with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Ransomware as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Black ice as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:

1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.

2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.

3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.

4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.

Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.

5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.

6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.

8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.

Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.

Trojan Killer for “Black ice” removal on locked PC

In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.

There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.

Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.

Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:

1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.

4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.

Step 2: Update Signature Databases:

5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.

Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:

7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.

8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.

9. Insert the USB flash drive.

10. Run tk.exe

11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.

13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.

14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer:

15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.

16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.

Congratulations on effectively removing Black ice and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.

Sometimes racketeers would decode several of your files to prove that they do have the decryption tool. As Black ice virus is a relatively new ransomware, anti-malware engineers have not yet found a method to reverse its work. Nevertheless, the anti-ransomware tools are constantly upgraded, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.

Understandably, if the malefactors do the job of encoding someone’s critical files, the hopeless person will probably comply with their demands. Despite that, paying to criminals gives no guarantee that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still risky. After obtaining the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption key to the victim. There were reports of malefactors just disappearing after getting the money without even bothering to reply.

The best countermeasure to ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud drive or at least on an external storage. Surely, that might be insufficient. Your most crucial thing could be that one you were working upon when it all went down. But at least it is something. It is also advisable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.

There are other ransomware products, besides Black ice, that work similarly. Examples of those are Wagner2, Proton, Pzcqyq, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Black ice are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: documents become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes emerge in every directory containing encoded files.

Some fortunate people were able to decrypt the arrested files with the help of the free software provided by anti-ransomware developers. Sometimes the criminals accidentally send the decryption key to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an extraordinary fail allows the victim to restore the files. But naturally, one should never rely on such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a criminals’ tool to pull the money out of their victims.

How сan I avert ransomware infection?

Black ice ransomware doesn’t have a endless power, neither does any similar malware.

You can armour your PC from its injection in several easy steps:

• Never open any letters from unknown mailboxes with strange addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are expecting (can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). If the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the questionable email with caution. A fake email will surely have mistakes.
• Do not use cracked or untrusted programs. Trojan viruses are often distributed as an element of cracked software, most likely as a “patch” which prevents the license check. But dubious programs are difficult to distinguish from reliable software, as trojans may also have the functionality you seek. You can try searching for information about this program on the anti-malware forums, but the best way is not to use such software.
• And finally, to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a powerful shield for your system.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 How can I open “.ICE” files?Can I somehow access “.ICE” files?

Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.ICE” files you will not be able to access them.

🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?

If the “.ICE” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. In case you haven’t, there is still a chance that you do have a Restore Point from some time ago to roll back the whole system to the moment when it had no virus yet, but already had your files. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.

🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Black ice virus?

No way! Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.

With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your system off the actual viruses. The virus that has infiltrated your computer is most likely still functional and launching checks every so often to encrypt any new files you might create on your computer after the attack. As it has already been said, the Black ice virus does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide criminals with easy access to your system after some time.

🤔 What actions should I take if the Black ice malware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.

In such a case, you need to have a flash memory card with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. The point is that the ransomware starts automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or imported into your system. To stop this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential applications to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Some of the encrypted files can be located elsewhere.

• If you exchanged your important files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You may have shared images or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to post those images back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try doing it again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud disks might have all those files as well.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a portable device, mobile, flash memory, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can use file recovery utilities¹ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware encrypts the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a restoration, but be advised: you can do it only after you eradicate the ransomware itself with an anti-malware program.

1. Here’s the list of Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.